336 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

think they are eligible for Federal assistance as well as the roads them-
selves. But if we are going to build these crossings with our 90-10
money, we're going to exhaust our capability of expanding our Inter-
state System, and the State Roads Commission is in such terrible shape
at the present time because of the escalation of construction costs and
the fact that although Federal money is available for construction
there's no Federal money available for maintenance of these 90-10
roads, that we must turn to this viable means of providing the public
with the road services that they demand and need at the present time.
We can't simply, even if the Federal government would put crossings
on a 90-10 basis, we can't build what we need to of our Interstate
System, pick up an additional $2 million a year in maintenance costs,
and still serve the public. I think we're going to have to turn to more
and more toll facilities if we're going to get our road network built.
I think we're going to have to turn to a facility, perhaps through Anne
Arundel County to parallel the Ritchie Highway, that will utilize the
additional Bay crossing in the parallel Bay crossing or crossing near
the existing Bay crossing. We've been in touch with the governor of
New Jersey and his people about a very interesting idea of extending
a connecting toll road all the way from Camden down through the
Eastern Shore across the parallel bridge and, if we made the Arundel
Expressway a toll road, on through. These are thoughts that we're
considering, but I don't think it's possible to contemplate that tolls
could be removed or that they should be removed. All over the
country, states are turning to toll systems as a means of providing the
services and we can't provide them unless we do, because the money
is just not there.

Q. Governor, with reference to the parallel bridge, we understand
that you're lunching with the Congressional delegation today. Would
you perhaps talk to Congressman Long on the parallel bridge situa-
tion?

A. Well, I would be glad to discuss anything that Congressman Long
or any other member of the delegation wants to discuss. I'm not really
hopeful that I can change the Congressman's opinions, because my
efforts in this direction and other areas in the past have met with
little success. But I'm open to discussing the matter with him.

Q. Governor, would you expand a little bit on this Camden-to-
Eastern Shore toll road?

A. Well, it's in the thinking stage at the present time.
Q. Have you met with the governor of New Jersey yet?